Newest Webster police officer arrives on scene

by Amanda Fanger

reporter@reporterandfarmer.com

When Hunter Cole was a senior in high school, he had the opportunity to do a ride-along with the Sioux Falls Police Department through a police explorer program. Out of that, he found his life calling.

“I want to see the difference I can make in the world,” said Cole, 21, who is the newest member of the Webster Police Department. Cole was officially hired by the city last month and had his first day on the job April 8. Although he is new, he said already he feels like he will fit in with the community of the department as a whole.

Originally from Brandon, he graduated high school there in 2019 and is currently finishing up his law enforcement degree from Lake Area Technical College in Watertown. He anticipates graduating from that program next month. He said he’s passed the written reciprocity test and now just needs to pass the physical tests to be eligible for graduation.

For the time being, while working to finish his college course, Cole is patrolling in tandem with other members of the Webster Police Department. Assistant Chief of Police Garret Premus said Cole will likely be working in such a fashion for the first couple months he’s on the department, just to ensure he’s fully comfortable with his position in the community.

It was through the similar ride-along experience that Cole said he knew law enforcement was the career path for him.

“I fell in love with it,” he said. “I love talking to people... It’s just an interesting job.”

In deciding where to apply for work, Cole said Webster attracted him because of the small town nature of the place.

“I want to know the people I work around,” he remarked.

In his spare time, Cole fancies himself an outdoors man enjoying activities like hunting and fishing. In fact, he said when he was younger, he would come through the Webster area while en route to some of the popular local fishing spots with his family.